Spinning spindle mechanisms, in particular to those driven by means of a worm and worm wheel



March 4, 1952 l.. BIRKIGT CHANISMS, IN PARTICULAR To THO Ns 0F A WORM AND WORM WHEEL E A ME EM L Y WB mm Sw MR ID N N I P S Filed Jan. 22,

.flllll IIL llilllfll A T'RNEY March 4, 1952 L. BlRKlGT 2,587,812

SPINNING SPINDLE MECHNISMS, IN PARTICULAR TO THOSE DRIVEN BY MEANS OF' A WORM AND WORM WHEEL 1951 2 SHEETSM-SHEET '2 Filed Jan. 22

, l Y R,

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 SPINNING SPINDLE MECHANISMS, IN PAR- 'TICULAR` TO THOSE DRIVEN BY .MEANS F A WORM AND WORM WHEEL Louis Birkigt, Versoix, pres Geneva, Switzerland,r

assignor to Hispano-Suiza (Suisse) S. A.,

Geneva, Switzerland, a society of' Switzerland Application January 22, 1951, Serial No. 207,168 lIn Luxemburg January 31, 1950.

Claims.

The present invention relates to spinning spindle mechanisms ofthe worm and wormwheel drive type.

'Its chief object is to provide a mechanism of this kind which is better adapted'to meet the requirements of practice.

It consists chiefly in interposing between a driving element actuated by the worm and a driven element coupled with the bobbin a centrifugal clutch the centrifugal elements of which participate in the rotation movement of said drivenv element, whereby stopping of this element causes said clutch to-'be disengaged, means being provided, in order to start said bobbin, `for gradually imparting a rotary movement to said driven element so as to bring the centrifugal clutch into operation.

Otherfeatures of the invention willv become apparent in the course of the following detailed descriptionY of some embodiments thereof with respect to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. lis a vertical section of `a spinning spindle mechanism according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar `to Fig. 1 of another embodiment.

Fig. 4 is an axial section of a detail modication.

Fig. 5 is an axial vertical section of a coupling device for use in connection with a spinning mechanism according to my invention;

Fig. 6` is an axial vertical section .on the-line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

The mechanism includes a casing I, adapted to be fixed to a suitable support and in which is journalled a horizontal shaft 2 carrying a Worm Wheel 3. A tubular piece 4 is fixed vertically in casing I to support, through a lower bearing 5 and an upper bearing 6 (for instance ball bearings), a sleeve which carries the teeth of worm 'I' which is intended to mesh `with worm wheel 3.

The upper part of tubular piece 4, which extends above casing I, carries a bearing 8 for guiding the bobbin ID, the outer cage of said bearing being housed in a bore provided for this purposein said tubular piece, with a toroidal rubber ring, interposed' between said cage and said piece.

According to my invention, I interpose, between a driving element actuated by worm I and a driven element coupled in rotation with bobbin I0, a centrifugal clutch the centrifugal elements of which participate in the movement of rotation of the driven element. Furthermore, means are provided for gradually rotating said driven element, in order to start bobbin lllby bringing the clutch into operation.

Owing to this arrangement, when bobbin III is slowed down by braking, the centrifugal clutch is brought out of action and prevents a detrimental heating of the coupling means 'between the driving element, which keeps rotating at normal speed, and `the driven element, which has been slowed down or stopped.

'If, in these conditions, it is desired to have bobbin I0 wholly disengaged from the driving shaft, the means for subsequently restarting the bobbin must be brought out of action by the braking or slowing down operation and must work only when the 'bobbin is no longer braked.

If, on the contrary. a partial disconnection is found to be suflicient, the restarting means may remain constantly in operation.

In the following description, it will be supposed that these restarting means operate by friction.

Before describing specific embodiments of my invention, it is pointed out that the position of the centrifugal clutch may undergo some variations provided it is inserted so to speak in series in the transmission between worm I and bobbin Il).

In particular is may be interposed either between spindle 9 and bobbin Ill (which then constitute the driving and driven elements respectively) or 'between a part rigid with worm I (which then constitutes the driving element) and spindle 9 (which then constitutes the driven element).

. I will first describe an embodiment, illustrated by Figs. 1 andZ, in which bobbin ID is wholly disengaged from the driving means and the centrifugal clutch is interposedu between spindle 9 and the bobbin.

According to this embodiment, spindle 9 is coupled with the bottom of the sleeve which carries worm 7 through ribs 9a which make it possible to remove spindle 9` by. pulling it upwardly.

and extending radially between these centrifugal masses.

Masses I3 are subjected to the action of return means, constituted by a spring ring I5 urging the masses toward their retracted or inner position, said ring being housed in grooves and notches provided for this purpose in masses i 3 and members I'lI respectively.

A braking device is constituted by a pivoting fork I6 carrying braking shoes I'I so as simultaneously to slow down bobbin IQ and to lift it with respect to spindle 9.

Preferably, any undue lifting of spindle 9 is prevented by a retractable hook I3 cooperating with a ring I9 rigid with cup-shaped part l2,

Such a system works in the followingv manner:

When bobbin l Il is braked and lifted by means of shoes Il, the rotation of masses I3 is slowed down and these masses "are gradually retracted by the action of spring ring I5. Furthermore these masses are lifted by ring l5, itself moved upwardly by members I4 through the notches of which said ring extends. As masses I3 are. thus moved away from the side and bottom walls of cup-shaped part l2, the rotation movement of spindle 9, rigid with said part l2, ceases to be transmitted to bobbin I Il, which stops if the braking action is exerted for a sunicient time. When it is desired to restart this bobbin, it suiiices to move fork I6 in the opposed direction, whereby, rst, centrifugal masses I3 come into contact through their -under edges with the bottom of Vcup-shaped part I2 and then shoes Il arev moved awav from the inner wall of bobbin Ill. The friction which is produced between the bottom of cup-shaped part I2 (which rotates together with spindle 9) and the lower edges of masses I3 graduallv causes said masses to rotate and to expand radially against the action of ring I5 until they come into contact with the side wall of part I2, which corresponds to engagement o f the centrifugal clutch between spindle 9 and bobhin Ill` Fig. 3 shows another embodiment which corresponds to the case in which there is always a tornue transmitted to bobbin |90. In this embodiment, the centrifugal clutch is interposed,

i Y not'between the spindle and the bobbin, but between the spindle and a part rotating together with worm 1.

According to this embodiment, the sleeve which carries worm I carries a tubular extension 2li extending above the upper bearing B and against the inner wall' of which centrifugal masses i3d can bear.

These masses are driven in rotation by spindle 90. For this purpose, the lower end of this spindle is coupled through longitudinal ribs 2| with an annular piece 22 provided, along its upper edge, with lugs 22a extending in the intervals between masses 13a.

The lower end of spindle 90 is guided in a smooth-bearing -23 and rests through its rounded end, on a bearing plate 24.

Masses Ia are subjected to the action of an expansible spring ring 25 which urges said masses outwardly.

This system works in the following manner:

When bobbin I |10 is braked (for instance by the action of a conventional brake acting upon drum 21 and which imparts no lifting movement to said bobbin), spindle is slowed down and the pressure with which masses Iia are applied against the inner wall of sleeve 3|! is reduced.

Y When bobbin |00 and spindle 90 are stopped, the

pressure that remains (due to the action of spring 25 on masses |3a) constitutes the means for creating a friction which serves to restart spindle 90 and bobbin |60 when they are no longer braked. Gradual increase of the speed of revolution of the spindle then increases the pressure with which masses |3a are applied and the centrifugal clutch is reengaged.

Fig. 4 shows a detail modification of this construction, according to which bearing 230 serves to support the weight of spindle 90.

Figs. 5 to 7 show a portion of a spindle mechanism according to my invention.

According to this construction, means (not shown) are provided for simultaneously braking bobbin |00 and lifting spindle 91 (said means being for instance of the same kind as shown by Figs. 1 and 2). Instead of subjecting the centrifugal masses |3a1 (the number of which is two) tothe action of a spring tending to move them away from each other, I make use, for this purpose, of the downward movement of spindle 91, the lower end of which forms a kind of screwdriver Sb for transmitting the rotary movement of the spindle to the masses, a bevelled portion 9c being provided above this screw-driver endy so as to act as a wedge to move the centrifugal masses away from each other when the spindle is allowed to move down. f

With this construction, the pressure 'with which the centrifugal masses are applied against the inner wall of sleeve 2li drops below substantial value when bobbin |00 is braked and spindle 91 is lifted, the clutch being engaged only when the weight of the spindle and the bobbin drives the masses away from each other.

With any of the constructions abovedescribed, the bobbin can easily be stopped or restarted, and this temporary stopping may last for any desired time without risk of heating.

Preferably, lubrication of at least one spindleV` guiding bearing, for instance the upper one, B, is obtained by means of a wick 2S, advantageously housed in a channel'p'rovided in tubular piece 4, the upper end of this wick being wound around said spindle, close to the zone to be lubricated, under a felt or similar ring 28, and the lower end 2Gb extending into casing I so as'to hang above worm wheel 3, where it is sprinkled with oil projected from said worm wheel. Y 1

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem tov be practical and eiiicient embodiments of my inventioni it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

l. A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a bobbin rotatably mounted on said frame, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts., means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for coupling said driven part inV rotation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, and restarting 'meansi'or urging said, centrifugal means outljournalled in. said frame, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part Vand centrifugal forceresponsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for coupling said driven part in ro- Atation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting the rotary motion between said bob- -bin and said centrifugal control means, and re starting means for transmitting a portion of the torque ofA said driving part to driven part for starting said driven part into rotation.

3i A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in` combination, a frame, a bobbin rotatably mounted on said frame, a driving shaft journalled said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for coupling said driven part in rotation with 'said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, and restarting means for transmitting a portion of the torque of said driving part to said driven part for startn ing said driven part into rotation, means for braking said bobbin, and means operatively connected with said braking means for disengaging said slipping clutch means when said braking means are in action.

4. A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a bobbin rotatably mounted on said frame, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel iournailed in said frame, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for coupling said driven part in rotation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, and restarting means constantly in action, for urging said centrifugal means outwardly to start said driven part into rotation.

5. A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaxial with said spindle, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, means for coupling said spindle in rotation with said worm, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means .for coupling said driving part in rotation with said spindle, means for coupling said driven part in rotation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, restarting means for transmitting a portionpf the torque of said drivingpart to said driven part for starting said part into rotation.

6. A spinning spindle mechanism which coinprises, in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaxially carried by saidl spindle for rotation therewith, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to saidshaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means` for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for positively coupling said driven part in rotation with said spindle, means for transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, and restarting means for transmitting a portion of the torque of said driving part to said driven part.

7. A spinningspindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaxial with said spindle, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel iournalled in said frame, means for coupling said spindle in rotation with said worm, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part, a driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said spindle, means for coupling said driven part in rotation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motiony between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, restarting means for transmitting a, portion of the torque of said driving part to said driven part, means for braking said bobbin, and means operatively connected with said braking means for disengaging said restarting means when said braking means are in action.

8. A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaxial with said spindle, a, driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, means for coupling said spindle in rotation with said worm, a centrifugal frictional clutch including a driving part in the form of a cup-shaped member, a driven part in the form a sleeve coaxially disposed inside said member rnd centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts constituted by masses movable radially with respect to said sleeve but fixed with respect thereto in the axial direction, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for co"plin^r said driven part in rotation with said bobbin, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, the under edges of said masses and the bottom of said cup-shaped member being adapted to cooperate together to form restarting means for transmitting a portion of the torque of said driving part to said driven part, and means for simultaneously braking said bobbin and lifting it whereby said restarting means are disengaged when said braking means are in action.

9, A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaxially carried by said spindle for rotation therewith, a driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, a centrifuga1frictiona1 clutch including a driving part. a, driven part and centrifugal force responsive control means for interconnecting said two parts, means for coupling said driving part in rotation with said worm, means for coupling said driven part in rotation with said spindle, means for positively transmitting rotary motion between said bobbin and said centrifugal control means, and spring means for urging said centrifugal control means into contact with the driving part even when the driven part is stopped so as to transmit a portion of the torque of said driving shaft to said driven part.

l0. A spinning spindle mechanism which comprises, in combination, a frame, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, a bobbin coaXiallycarried by said spindle for rotation therewith, a

driving shaft journalled in said frame, a worm 2O .wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said worm wheel journalled in said frame, a cylin-V drical sleeve coupled in rotation with said worm coa-Xially surrounding the lower end of said spindle, two centrifugal masses each in the form of a substantially semi-cylindrical element iitting between said sleeve and said spindle lower end, the lower portions of said elements being in the form of transverse walls extending inwardly. so that their inner faces are located at a distance from each other on either side of the axis of said sleeve, the lower end of said spindle including bevelled faces and, below said faces, and a screwdriver portion adapted to engage into the space between said inner faces of the centrifugal elements.

LOUIS BIRKIGT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,317,302 Lyth Sept. 30, 1919 1,772,315 Kanter Aug. 5, 1930 1,786,348 Keyser Dec. 23, 1930 1,798,817 Stone Mar. 3l, 1931 

